FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SAN LEANDRO RESIDENT SANTOS MAKES IT TWO IN A ROW AT HIS HOME TRACK
SONOMA, Calif. - Defending Federal-Mogul Dragster and Defending Sears Point Raceway Champion, Rick Santos of San Leandro, Calif. made it look easy as he made it two wins in a row at the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at Sears Point Raceway. Forty year veteran of NHRA Drag Racing, Mert Littlefield of Garden Grove, Calif. beat the long-shot odds and took home his first Federal-Mogul Funny Car win since '94.

In Sunday's eliminations, Santos was the picture of consistency with three runs of 5.55 seconds or better. Things were not so bright after Friday's qualifying attempt when he broke the transmission and rear end. "If we were at any other track we couldn't have rebuilt the car," said Santos. In round one, Santos had a run of 5.532 seconds at 247.40 mph against a run of 6.111 seconds at 230.65 mph for Tony Meredyk of Cypress, Calif. Second round Santos faced another San Leandro resident, Chris Lane, and posted a run of 5.556 seconds at 252.24 mph and won the right to face Melanie Troxel of Littleton, Colo. in the final.

Troxel made it to the final by beating Rick Henkelman of San Jose, Calif. in the closest race of the day. Henkelman posted a run of 5.649 seconds at 248.59 mph while Troxel just beat him at the finish line with a run of 5.627 seconds at 250.37 mph.

The final matched the current No. 1 points leader in the Pacific Division, Santos, and the No. 1 points leader in the Northwest Division, Troxel.

Troxel beat him off the line with a quick reaction time of .427 to Santos .475. Santos made it up at the finish when Troxel had to turn off just a little early. Santos recorded a run of 5.539 seconds at 248.87 mph to Troxel's run of 5.711 seconds at 245.59 mph.

"The car was consistent all day," said Santos. "This track is very tricky because of the heat and the short concrete. I thought consistent low 5.50's could maybe win here and that is what we were able to pull off."

Littlefield was also consistent with three runs of 5.92 seconds or better. Round one Littlefield beat Dennis Taylor of Anaheim, Calif. in a close race, Littlefield's run of 5.921 seconds to Taylor's run of 5.954 seconds. In round two Littlefield faced the 1998 Pacific Division Runner-up in Federal-Mogul Funny Car, John Weaver of Hanford, Calif. Littlefield won when Taylor lost an engine about 200-ft. from the finish. In the final, Littlefield came up against No. 3 qualifier, Pete Swayne of Orange, Calif.

Littlefield stayed consistent with another run of 5.9 seconds at 238.36 but didn't need it because Swayne broke at half-track. "It's been a lot of hard work to get here, by my crew, my wife, and everybody that helped us," said an ecstatic Littlefield. "The feeling I had when I saw Pete [Swayne] break is indescribable. This is just great for the team, it's been a long time coming."

The following are Final results from the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at Sears Point Raceway:

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER 
Rick Santos, San Leandro, Calif., 5.539 seconds, 248.87 mph def.
Melanie Troxel, Littleton, Colo., 5.711, 245.59

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR  
Mert Littlefield, Garden Grove, Calif., '99 Chevrolet, 5.539 def.
Pete Swayne, Orange, Calif., '98 Pontiac, 11.298, 106.78
 
COMP ELIMINATOR
Rick Braun, Redlands, Calif., '97 Pontiac, C/EA, 8.322, 162.08 def.
Randy Jones, Monarch Beach, Calif., '97 Pontiac, D/A, 18.364, 43.45

SUPER STOCK
Tony DeFrank, Tarzana, Calif., '98 Pontiac, GT/GA, 10.216, 129.88 def.
Bill Blakeney, Bell, Calif., '68 Chevrolet, SS/HA, Foul 

STOCK ELIMINATOR
Don Little, Westley, Calif. '70 Plymouth, A/SA, 10.539, 125.60 def.
Don Keen, Quartz Hill, Calif., '68 Ford, B/S, 10.863, 118.67

SUPER COMP
Rick Beckstrom, Novato, Calif., Dragster, 8.907, 159.29 def.
Steve Casner, Sheridan, Calif., Dragster, 8.920, 164.27

SUPER GAS
Pete Bothe, Long Beach, Calif., '78 Porsche, 10.104, 116.32 def.
Patt Warr Jr., West Jordan, Utah, 10.570, 152.11

SUPER STREET
Ted Kellner, San Jose, Calif., '75 Chevrolet, 10.880, 133.37 def.
Hillary Will, Fortuna, Calif., '71 Chrysler, 10.801, 121.67

SPORTSMAN MOTORCYCLE
Brian Hudson, Kennewick, Wash., '81 Suzuki, 9.054, 137.46 def.
Brian Rakestraw, Livermore, Calif., '92 Kawasaki, 9.705, 125.51  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SAN LEANDRO RESIDENT SANTOS SETS PACE IN QUALIFYING AT SEARS POINT RACEWAY
SONOMA, Calif. - Defending Federal-Mogul Dragster and Sears Point Raceway Champion, Rick Santos of San Leandro, Calif. claimed the No. 1 qualifying position at the slick and windy Sears Point Raceway in Saturday's first round of qualifying. John Weaver of Hanford, Calif. took the No. 1 qualifying position in Federal-Mogul Dragster after blowing his engine in Friday's qualifying attempt.

Santos returned to championship form on Saturday after breaking a rear end and transmission in Friday's qualifying attempt. Friday night Santos returned to his home in San Leandro to get parts and rebuild the rear end of his damaged Oakwood Homes Federal-Mogul Dragster. Santos made the necessary repairs in time to record the quickest Federal-Mogul Dragster effort of the day with a run of 5.488 seconds at 247.58 mph.

"I just wanted to get it down the track this afternoon," said a smiling Santos. "The car shook a little at the start and I thought the worst. The shaking stopped at about quarter track and the car was smooth through finish line."

Weaver also had major car problems in Friday's qualifying attempt only to come back on Saturday and post the quickest time in a Federal-Mogul Dragster. Weaver threw four rods in Friday's qualifying attempt and had to replace the engine before today's qualifying attempt. Weaver took to the track and posted a run of 5.794 seconds at 245.99 mph.

"The car did just what we asked it to today," said Weaver. "Last night the crew and I put our spare motor in and tried to tune it down to what the track could hold. I think we guessed right."

The NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series at Sears Point Raceway continues tomorrow with eliminations beginning at 8:15 a.m. Final round of qualifying for Federal-Mogul Dragsters and Federal-Mogul Funny Cars will be at 10 a.m. with first round of eliminations at 12 noon.

The following are Saturday's qualifying results from the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at Sears Point Raceway:

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER (after 2 rounds)
1. Rick Santos, San Leandro, Calif., 5.488 seconds, 247.58 mph
2. Rick Henkelman, San Jose, Calif., 5.537, 254.40
3. Melanie Troxel, Littleton, Colo., 5.575, 249.92
4. Cliff Bingham, Huntington Beach, Calif., 5.676, 248.34
5. Mark Niver, Scottsdale, Ariz., 5.698, 241.68
6. Darren Nicholson, Laguna Hills, Calif., 5.736, 243.01
7. Rob Wendland, Lawrence, Kansas, 5.831, 210.86
8. Brad Hansen, Bellingham, Wash., 6.071, 229.26

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR (after 2 rounds)
1. John Weaver, Hanford, Calif., '98 Pontiac, 5.794, 245.99
2. Dan McGlone, Gladstone, Ore., '98 Ford, 5.862, 241.16
3. Dennis Taylor, Anaheim, Calif.,  '99 Dodge,  5.939, 235.93
4. Rod Alexander, Simi Valley, Calif., '99 Chevrolet, 5.955, 235.72
5. Bob Gallio, Fullerton, Calif., '97 Pontiac, 5.959, 237.34 
6. Steve Gasparelli, West Covina, Calif., '99 Pontiac, 5.973, 238.51
7. Pete Swayne, Orange, Calif., '98 Pontiac, 5.993, 242.17
8. Mert Littlefield, Garden Grove, Calif., '99 Chevrolet, 6.003, 235.26

COMP ELIMINATOR
1. Andy Manna Jr., Covina, Calif., '98 Pontiac, D/EA, 8.492 (-0.548)
2. Jim Kennedy, San Jose, Calif., '97 Pontiac, F/A, 8.595 (-0.545)
3. Rick Houser, Pasadena, Calif, '34 Chevrolet, C/SR, 8.791 (-0.539)
4. Jeff Gillette, Benicia, Calif., '97 Dragster, B/ED, 7.088 (-0.532)
5. Rick Braun, Redlands, Calif., '97 Pontiac, C/EA,  8.310 (-0.500)
6. Fred Gross, La Crescenta, Calif., '95 Pontiac, D/A, 8.030 (-0.500)
7. Alan Freese, Monterey, Calif., '96 Pontiac, C/EA, 8.318 (-0.492)
8. Larry Hedlund, Irvine, Calif., '88 Chevrolet, E/SM, 8.503 (-0.487)

SUPER STOCK
1. Jimmy DeFrank, Tarzana, Calif., '89 Chevrolet, GT/HA, 10.360 (-0.990)
2. Tony DeFrank, Tarzana, Calif., '98 Pontiac, GT/GA, 10.210, (-0.990)
3. Gary Williams, Mariposa, Calif., '64 Mercury, SS/MA, 11.186, (-0.964)
4. Terry Sherrill, Klamuth Falls, Ore., '57 Chevrolet, SS/AM,  8.642 (-0.908)
5. Fred Moreno, LaVerne, Calif., '69 Ford, SS/GA, 9.948, (-0.902)
6. John Schiess, North Hills, Calif., '91 Oldsmobile, GT/BA, 9.673 (-0.877)
7. Frank Grossi, Upland, Calif., '96 Oldsmobile, GT/BA, 9.699 (-0.851)
8. Tim Smith, Rocklin, Calif., '87 Chevrolet, GT/CA, 9.854 (-0.846)
9. Bob Fordyce, Vista, Calif., '91 Oldsmobile, GT/FA, 10.272, (-0.816)
10. Tony Hewes, Reno, Nev., '96 Ford, SS/GA, 10.028, (-0.822)

STOCK ELIMINATOR
1. Darren Smith, Palmdale, Calif., '98 Dodge, DT/SA, 12.051 (-1.449)
2. Tom Roberts, Mira Loma, Calif., '76 Dodge, J/SA, 11.734 (-1.016)
3. Chuck Rayburn, Castro Valley, Calif, '71 Dodge, C/SA, 10.689 (-1.011)
4. Gary Harper, San Jose, Calif., '81 Dodge, FT/SA, 12.760 (-0.990)
5. Rob Youngblood, Nampa, Idaho, '71 Ford, D/S, 10.819 (-0.981)
6. Steve Wann, Modesto, Calif., '70 Plymouth, C/SA, 10.735 (-0.965)
7. Darin Grossi, Soulsbyville, Calif., '71 Chrysler, B/SA, 10.591 (-0.959)
8. Dwayne Scheitlin, Madera, Calif., '71 Chrysler, B/SA, 10.613 (-0.937)
9. Jim Meador, Yorba Linda, Calif., '67 Chevrolet, D/SA, 10.933 (-0.917)
10. Danny Missbrenner, San Jose, Calif., '71 Dodge, F/SA, 11.253 (-0.897)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA NATIVES SET PACE AT FIRST DAY OF QUALIFYING AT SEARS POINT RACEWAY
SONOMA, Calif. - Cliff Bingham of Huntington Beach, Calif. and Dennis Taylor of Anaheim, Calif., set the pace in Federal-Mogul Dragster and Federal-Mogul Funny Car, respectively, at the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at Sears Point Raceway.

Bingham navigated the quarter-mile track with a strong run of 5.676 seconds at 248.34 mph to take the No. 1 qualifying position in Federal-Mogul Dragster. Bingham was one of the few drivers to make a full, clean run in Friday's qualifying session. Many of the first Federal-Mogul Dragsters down the track shook the tires, smoked the tires, or got out of the groove at the half-track point. Many of the top drivers had problems on this day including: Defending National Federal-Mogul Dragster Champion, Rick Santos of San Leandro, Calif and current Northwest division points leader, Melanie Troxel from Littleton, Colo.

"We were lucky enough to be one of the last cars to qualify and could make slight changes on the car as all the others went up in smoke", said a happy Bingham. "We set the car up almost perfect for today's weather conditions. Tomorrow all the great cars and drivers that didn't get into the field will be shooting for us."

Taylor, another Southern Calif. native, took the No. 1 qualifying position in the Federal-Mogul Funny Car qualifying on Friday much the same way Bingham did in his Dragster. Taylor sat and watched most of the Funny Car field go ahead of him in qualifying and it paid off. Like the Federal-Mogul Dragsters most of the Funny Car field had problems on the track. Taylor made all the necessary adjustments to have a run of 5.939 seconds at 235.93 mph.

"All the problems the other drivers had really surprised me", said Taylor. "My car was just great, we set it up well and I saw how the others were doing on the track and I made adjustments. To tell the truth anyone could have driven my car today, it was on rails."

The NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series at Sears Point Raceway continues tomorrow with final qualifying beginning at 9 a.m. and Federal-Mogul Dragsters and Federal-Mogul Funny Cars qualifying at 3:30 and 7 p.m. At 9:15 p.m. the Jet Cars and Fireworks will begin.

The following are Friday's qualifying results from the NHRA Federal-Mogul Drag Racing Series event at Sears Point Raceway:

FEDERAL-MOGUL DRAGSTER
1. Cliff Bingham, Huntington Beach, Calif., 5.676 seconds, 248.34 mph
2. Darren Nicholson, Laguna Hills, Calif., 5.736, 243.01
3. Rick Henkelman, San Jose, Calif., 5.765, 237.68
4. Mark Niver, Scottsdale, Ariz., 5.860, 208.99
5. Brad Hansen, Bellingham, Wash., 6.071, 229.26
6. Larry Miersch, Fallbrook, Calif., 6.235, 167.15
7. Gary Ormsby Jr., Granite Bay, Calif., 8.263, 100.46
8. Mark Foster, Santa Cruz, Calif., 8.271, 121.57

FEDERAL-MOGUL FUNNY CAR 
1. Dennis Taylor, Anaheim, Calif.,  '99 Dodge,  5.939, 235.93
2. Dan McGlone, Gladstone, Ore., '98 Ford, 5.961, 238.43
3. Steve Gasparelli, West Covina, Calif., '99 Pontiac, 5.973, 238.51
4. Mert Littlefield, Garden Grove, Calif., '99 Chevrolet, 6.003, 235.26
5. Don Hudson, Stockton, Calif., '98 Oldsmobile, 6.101, 238.63
6. Larry Miner, Woodbridge, Calif., '98 Dodge, 6.178, 229.16
7. Clint Thompson, Klamath Falls, Ore., '97 Chevrolet, 6.179, 201.06
8. Pete Swayne, Orange, Calif., '98 Pontiac, 6.198, 233.19

COMP ELIMINATOR
1. Jeff Gillette, Benicia, Calif., '97 Dragster, B/ED, 7.088 (-0.532)
2. Rick Braun, Redlands, Calif., '97 Pontiac, C/EA,  8.310 (-0.500)
3. Alan Freese, Monterey, Calif., '96 Pontiac, C/EA, 8.318 (-0.492)
4. Bryan Morrison, Chino Hills, Calif., '92 Chevrolet, B/SM, 8.895 (-0.475)
5. Jim Kennedy, San Jose, Calif., '97 Pontiac, F/A, 8.680 (-0.460)
6. Fred Gross, La Crescenta, Calif., '95 Pontiac, D/A, 8.072 (-0.458)
7. Tommy Brown, Westminster, Calif., '88 Dragster, F/ED, 8.610 (-0.420)
8. Randy Jones, Monarch Beach, Calif., '98 Pontiac, D/A, 8.127 (-0.403)
9. Rick Houser, Pasadena, Calif, '34 Chevrolet, C/SR, 8.928 (-0.402)
10. Donnie Hedrick, Las Vegas, Nev., '96 Chevrolet, B/EA, 8.137 (-0.383) 

SUPER STOCK
1. Jimmy DeFrank, Tarzana, Calif., '89 Chevrolet, GT/HA, 10.360 (-0.990)
2. Tony DeFrank, Tarzana, Calif., '98 Pontiac, GT/GA, 10.221, (-0.979) 
3. Terry Sherrill, Klamuth Falls, Ore., '57 Chevrolet, SS/AM,  8.642 (-0.908)
4. Fred Moreno, LaVerne, Calif., '69 Ford, SS/GA, 9.948, (-0.902)
5. Frank Grossi, Upland, Calif., '96 Oldsmobile, GT/BA, 9.699 (-0.851)
6. Tim Smith, Rocklin, Calif., '87 Chevrolet, GT/CA, 9.854 (-0.846)
7. John Schiess, North Hills, Calif., '91 Oldsmobile, GT/BA, 9.710 (-0.840)
8. Gary Williams, Mariposa, Calif., '64 Mercury, SS/MA, 11.314, (-0.836)
9. Tony Hewes, Reno, Nev., '96 Ford, SS/GA, 10.028, (-0.822)
10. Bob Fordyce, Vista, Calif., '91 Oldsmobile, GT/FA, 10.284, (-0.816)

STOCK ELIMINATOR
1. Chuck Rayburn, Castro Valley, Calif, '71 Dodge, C/SA, 10.689 (-1.011)
2. Gary Harper, San Jose, Calif., '81 Dodge, FT/SA, 12.760 (-0.990)
3. Rob Youngblood, Nampa, Idaho, '71 Ford, D/S, 10.819 (-0.981)
4. Steve Wann, Modesto, Calif., '70 Plymouth, C/SA, 10.735 (-0.965)
5. Darin Grossi, Soulsbyville, Calif., '71 Chrysler, B/SA, 10.591 (-0.959)
6. Tom Roberts, Mira Loma, Calif., '76 Dodge, J/SA, 11.806 (-0.944)
7. Jim Meador, Yorba Linda, Calif., '67 Chevrolet, D/SA, 10.933 (-0.917)
8. Danny Missbrenner, San Jose, Calif., '71 Dodge, F/SA, 11.253 (-0.897)
9. Don Little, Westley, Calif., '70 Plymouth, A/SA, 10.413 (-0.887)
10. Gary Kestler, Las Vegas, Nev., '70 Dodge, C/SA, 10.835 (-0.865)